Regional Medical Laboratory

An allergy can be described as a malfunction of the human immune system causing a violent reaction against normally harmless substances in our natural environment. In this context, such substances are generally referred to as "allergens". The reaction creates an inflammation which, in turn, can lead to a variety of symptoms such as hay fever, eczema, asthma and other conditions popularly referred to as allergies.

There are genetic and environmental risk factors. To develop allergic symptoms, one must first be exposed to the specific allergen for some time to build up the allergic sensitivity, and then once more to trigger the allergic reaction. Environmental factors, such as smoking and pollution, will also add to the risk.

Initially, allergies often appear as seemingly benign conditions, such as hay fever during the pollen season. In fact, many people gradually build up an allergic condition over many years before experiencing any symptoms whatsoever.

However, for some unfortunate people, a certain food or drug or an ordinary insect bite can result in sudden, life-threatening anaphylactic shock. Furthermore, of those allergies which start as eczema or gastrointestinal problems, many evolve into asthma, frequently involving respiratory symptoms such as hyperreactivity and obstruction of the airways. This direct path of development, widely referred to as "the allergy march"(1) is the prime reason RML instituted in-house testing for specific IgE Allergens by the ImmunoCAP™ method developed by by Pharmacia Diagnostics.

RML offers five basic, cost effective panels available for the Internists, Family Practitioners and Pediatricians offices. The General Oklahoma/Kansas Panel includes 13 very common indoor and out door allergens for the Oklahoma/Kansas area. Three other adult panels are available, the Outdoor OK/KS Panel, Indoor Panel and Food Basic Panel, with a fifth panel designed for children. These panels are not intended to be all-inclusive, but are to provide a high probability of differentiating allergic from non-allergic patients. For more indepth information regarding RML's allergy tests:
click here for the Specialized Test section of our service guide.

References:
(1) Saarinen U M, et al. Lancet 1995;346:1065-1069